Obituary for Frederick Ernest "Fred" Campbell

Friendship — Frederick E. Campbell, 81, beloved husband of Jane M. Campbell, died peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, Saturday, July 8, 2017, at Sussman House in Rockport after a short illness.

He was born July 4, 1936, to John W. and Geraldine E. Campbell of Wellesley, Mass. As a boy, Fred was a member of the Perry Greene Boy Scouts. At age 14, his troop climbed Mt. Katahdin in March. He attended Wellesley schools, where he met Jane M. MacKenzie in 1952. He was always showing off, trying to gain Jane’s attention. On one of these occasions, he fell and broke his wrist, gaining her interest but not quite her attention. Finally, in 1953, she gave in and they started dating.

Fred left school in ’54 to join the Marines. After serving for two years in Japan, he came home and married Jane Feb. 26, 1956. A year later, they had their first son. Fred was promoted to sergeant shortly before he was discharged in ‘58. After he was discharged, he and Jane moved their family to Maine and went on to have six children, who, when talking to them, and trying to be funny, he always called by the number order they were born.

Fred enjoyed taking his kids clamming, camping, swimming, and taking his boys and their friends hunting every November. He enjoyed cooking breakfast for them all on the first day of hunting season. He liked taking his kids and local kids from the Methodist Youth Group to the roller skating rink in Augusta, and stopping at Moody’s Diner on the way home. He was a handyman around the house and helped anyone who needed it. He and Jane loved to go dancing with their friends every Saturday night.

In 1976, with five of his six kids in attendance, he received his GED, joking that one of his kids had graduated before him. He was a member of the Amvets Post 104 in Uxbridge, Mass., and a member of the American Legion in Waldoboro. He worked for Prock Marine for 32 years. And he enjoyed working alongside his wife on the Friendship Volunteer Ambulance for 10 years. After he retired, he and Jane spent their winters in Florida, where he loved working in his garden, and going to the Nascar races with his son. Fred loved his kids, but his most absolute joy was his 15 grandkids and his soon-to-be 30 great-grandkids.

Fred was predeceased by his parents and brother Ronald. Four brothers-in- law, David, Donnie and Daniel MacKenzie and Dean McRoberts

A graveside celebration of Fred’s life will be held Aug. 12 at 1 p.m. at the Old Village Cemetery, Main Street. Friendship, and there will be a gathering after across the street at the Hahn Community Center.